Association Between the Use of Benzodiazepines and the Occurrence of Acute Angle-closure Glaucoma in the Elderly: A Population-based Study

Abstract

Introduction

Acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG) is an ophthalmic emergency, accompanied with severe eye pain, headache, and visual changes because of acute intraocular pressure elevation. Among psychotropic drugs, several antidepressants, typical antipsychotics with strong anticholinergic effects, and topiramate have been known to increase a possibility of AACG. Benzodiazepines have been used widely in the treatment of mental and physical illnesses regardless of age or indication. Since benzodiazepines have some anticholinergic properties and affect pupillae muscles, their use could be theoretically a risk factor for AACG. However, it is unclear whether benzodiazepines actually increase the risk of AACG. To our knowledge, there was no population-based study on the risk of benzodiazepines to the occurrence of AACG.

Objectives/aims

To know whether benzodiazepines increase the risk of AACG in a geriatric population.

Methods

We will perform a case-control study using a geriatric cohort from the National Health Insurance database. Case subjects will be defined as cases diagnosed with AACG confirmed by the claim data of laser iridotomy, which is the definitive treatment of AACG. The controls, which were not diagnosed with AACG, will be matched with case subjects according to similar age, sex, and the scores of the Charlson comorbidity index.

Results

The data handling and statistical analyses will be executed in autumn and winter 2016.

Conclusions

Any preliminary findings of this study will be presented at the EPA 2017. We will discuss the importance of a pharmaco-epidemiological study in the geriatric research.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.